Friday, July 30, 2004
Community Board 5 approves statues for parks and changes to landmarks
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Community Board 5 , with a territory between 14th and 59th Streets and Lexington to Eight Avenues ( except Sixth Ave between 14th and 26th and Madison between 34th and 40th) has more tourist traffic than any CB. Its monthly meetings, second Thursday each month except for August, have visitor-oriented topics galore. You’re welcome, and your name will be published in the Minutes.
The May 13, 2004 CB5 regular monthly meeting of CB5 took place, as customarily, at the Fashion Institute of Technology, 227 West 27th Street, Building A, 8th Floor, at 6..30 PM. The meetings start with a Public Session, to first give members of the public an opportunity to speak on topics of local interest (not too tightly defined), followed by a Business Session , addressing some housekeeping items. The bulk of the meeting is devoted to the important Committee Reports where chairpersons offer resolutions to recommend approval or denial of requests for licenses, public events, construction, transportation, changes to landmarked buildings and transportation routes affecting the district. Each committee holds a meeting throughout the month, to provide an arena for proponents to present their cases. The committee resolutions are voted upon by the whole CB at the monthly meeting, and are normally nearly unanimously approved.
The Public Session speakers concentrated on newsstand applications, Times Square, vendors’ complaints of security bollards and planters impeding their legal activities, and partisans addressing the issues of rooftop and backyard additions at 33 East 20th Street.
In the Committee Reports Session, Consents and Variances recommended denial for two newsstands, for reasons of congestion. Transportation/Environment Committee had extensive recommendations for revitalization of Times Square, where traffic has gone up 200% in 20 years, to be facilitated by widening sidewalks, narrowing unnecessary traffic lanes, and discouraging vendors from grabbing the extra space. The TKTS space is to be improved and a summer art exhibit was recommended.
For Madison Square Park, the Big Apple Barbecue (June 13) was recommended to be approved, as was the temporary installation of three sculptures by Marco de Suvero, likewise a Responsible Dog Ownership Celebration by the American Kennel Club, on September 18. The sculpture exhibit was proposed as part of the Madison Square Park Conservancy ‘s art program. Bet you did not know that existed. A Target Stores promotional event was denied. The 23rd Street Association’s music program, for successive Thursdays between June 19 and August19, passed with flying colors – 12.30 to 2:30; no selling of food , though.
The Taiwan Festival on Union Square, for May 16, was approved.
The Landmarks and Park Committees were merciful this time, approving a six-foot statue of Benito Juarez, Mexico’s Indian revolutionary hero who defied the French empire. It is by Moises Cabrero Orozco , a gift of the people of the state of Oaxaca, and was accepted for Bryant Park, in line with the city policy of recognizing that Mexicans are the third largest Latino population in New York and counting, but without any statuary representation. Hola!
In the Ladies’ Mile Historic District, a rooftop addition , at 95 Fifth Ave (17 St.), a 12-story Beaux Arts structure by Henry Corn (1899-1900), and a more appropriate storefront design for 928 Broadway were recommended to be approved. Two other storefront infills, one at 186 Fifth Ave, installed without authorization, and at 134 Fifth Ave, were given short shrift, with recommendations to deny the applications.
At 30 West 18th Street a/k/a 31 West 17th Street, a 75-ft vacant lot was recommended to be approved for the construction of a new residential building of contextual height. Ladies’ Mile is certainly booming again, lots of restaurant action.
The controversial rooftop addition, back yard and storefront infill at 33 East 20th Street was recommended for approval, with a split vote.
Public Safety & Quality of Life committee recommended that the SLA deny a liquor license for Felena (formerly Bloom Florist) at 16 West 21st Street, because of proliferation. There are 23 liquor dispensers within 500 ft .And, as a final resolution for the day, the denizens of Chelsea, 14th to 26th Streets between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, were supported in their wish to be served by the 10th Police Precinct rather than our 13th, to have the constabulary duty lines coincide with their CD lines (that area is served by CD4). And so to bed, as Mr. Pepys would close his diary.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Recycling Updated, courtesy of CB5
Recycle Mixed Paper in clear bags or GREEN-labeled recycling containers. That includes newspapers, magazines and catalogs, telephone books, paper, mail and envelopes, paper bags, soft cover books, smooth cardboard, including shoe boxes, cereal boxes (after removing liners) and tubes, corrugated cardboard boxes (tied in bundles)
Recycle Metal, Plastics and Glass in clear bags or BLUE-labeled recycling containers. That includes cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs, beverage cartons and drink boxes, aluminum foil and trays, household metal objects, such as wire hangers, pots and pans, large items that are predominantly metal, such as metal furniture and metal cabinets.
Don’t Recycle: plastic toys, electronic equipment or plastic cups and plates, deli or yogurt containers, Styrofoam items or plastic furniture.
Ed.: Samuel Pepys (pronounced Peeps) was a 17th Century British civil servant and diarist
Community Board 5 , with a territory between 14th and 59th Streets and Lexington to Eight Avenues ( except Sixth Ave between 14th and 26th and Madison between 34th and 40th) has more tourist traffic than any CB. Its monthly meetings, second Thursday each month except for August, have visitor-oriented topics galore. You’re welcome, and your name will be published in the Minutes.
The May 13, 2004 CB5 regular monthly meeting of CB5 took place, as customarily, at the Fashion Institute of Technology, 227 West 27th Street, Building A, 8th Floor, at 6..30 PM. The meetings start with a Public Session, to first give members of the public an opportunity to speak on topics of local interest (not too tightly defined), followed by a Business Session , addressing some housekeeping items. The bulk of the meeting is devoted to the important Committee Reports where chairpersons offer resolutions to recommend approval or denial of requests for licenses, public events, construction, transportation, changes to landmarked buildings and transportation routes affecting the district. Each committee holds a meeting throughout the month, to provide an arena for proponents to present their cases. The committee resolutions are voted upon by the whole CB at the monthly meeting, and are normally nearly unanimously approved.
The Public Session speakers concentrated on newsstand applications, Times Square, vendors’ complaints of security bollards and planters impeding their legal activities, and partisans addressing the issues of rooftop and backyard additions at 33 East 20th Street.
In the Committee Reports Session, Consents and Variances recommended denial for two newsstands, for reasons of congestion. Transportation/Environment Committee had extensive recommendations for revitalization of Times Square, where traffic has gone up 200% in 20 years, to be facilitated by widening sidewalks, narrowing unnecessary traffic lanes, and discouraging vendors from grabbing the extra space. The TKTS space is to be improved and a summer art exhibit was recommended.
For Madison Square Park, the Big Apple Barbecue (June 13) was recommended to be approved, as was the temporary installation of three sculptures by Marco de Suvero, likewise a Responsible Dog Ownership Celebration by the American Kennel Club, on September 18. The sculpture exhibit was proposed as part of the Madison Square Park Conservancy ‘s art program. Bet you did not know that existed. A Target Stores promotional event was denied. The 23rd Street Association’s music program, for successive Thursdays between June 19 and August19, passed with flying colors – 12.30 to 2:30; no selling of food , though.
The Taiwan Festival on Union Square, for May 16, was approved.
The Landmarks and Park Committees were merciful this time, approving a six-foot statue of Benito Juarez, Mexico’s Indian revolutionary hero who defied the French empire. It is by Moises Cabrero Orozco , a gift of the people of the state of Oaxaca, and was accepted for Bryant Park, in line with the city policy of recognizing that Mexicans are the third largest Latino population in New York and counting, but without any statuary representation. Hola!
In the Ladies’ Mile Historic District, a rooftop addition , at 95 Fifth Ave (17 St.), a 12-story Beaux Arts structure by Henry Corn (1899-1900), and a more appropriate storefront design for 928 Broadway were recommended to be approved. Two other storefront infills, one at 186 Fifth Ave, installed without authorization, and at 134 Fifth Ave, were given short shrift, with recommendations to deny the applications.
At 30 West 18th Street a/k/a 31 West 17th Street, a 75-ft vacant lot was recommended to be approved for the construction of a new residential building of contextual height. Ladies’ Mile is certainly booming again, lots of restaurant action.
The controversial rooftop addition, back yard and storefront infill at 33 East 20th Street was recommended for approval, with a split vote.
Public Safety & Quality of Life committee recommended that the SLA deny a liquor license for Felena (formerly Bloom Florist) at 16 West 21st Street, because of proliferation. There are 23 liquor dispensers within 500 ft .And, as a final resolution for the day, the denizens of Chelsea, 14th to 26th Streets between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, were supported in their wish to be served by the 10th Police Precinct rather than our 13th, to have the constabulary duty lines coincide with their CD lines (that area is served by CD4). And so to bed, as Mr. Pepys would close his diary.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Recycling Updated, courtesy of CB5
Recycle Mixed Paper in clear bags or GREEN-labeled recycling containers. That includes newspapers, magazines and catalogs, telephone books, paper, mail and envelopes, paper bags, soft cover books, smooth cardboard, including shoe boxes, cereal boxes (after removing liners) and tubes, corrugated cardboard boxes (tied in bundles)
Recycle Metal, Plastics and Glass in clear bags or BLUE-labeled recycling containers. That includes cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs, beverage cartons and drink boxes, aluminum foil and trays, household metal objects, such as wire hangers, pots and pans, large items that are predominantly metal, such as metal furniture and metal cabinets.
Don’t Recycle: plastic toys, electronic equipment or plastic cups and plates, deli or yogurt containers, Styrofoam items or plastic furniture.
Ed.: Samuel Pepys (pronounced Peeps) was a 17th Century British civil servant and diarist
# posted by Wally Dobelis @ 8:40 PM 
